I may have celebrated another big birthday earlier this month, but I’m still a teenager in my head. I’ve got the Monday Blues so I thought I’d share some songs I recorded straight from the radio to a blank cassette tape back in my teen years. These songs always cheer me up. I sometimes miss the old days before iPods, iTunes and YouTube. 🙂
Avril Lavigne – Unwanted. This was my “I’m pissed off and you’ll leave me alone if you know what’s good for you” song. I had a ball belting this out at the top of my lungs when I was 19 or so – okay, I still like to shout out these lyrics today. Avril’s songs tell stories, something severely lacking from a lot of pop music.
Britney Spears – I could choose any of her songs from her first few albums. It’s Britney Bitch! I’m going with “(You Drive Me) Crazy” ’cause I love the video – look, it even has Sabrina the Teenage Witch in it. My friends and I would try to learn all the dance moves to her songs when we were 16. We loved her. She made some of my school days bearable. It’s a pity her music in recent years pretty much sucks.
Matchbox 20 – Push. I got that stomach crunching, pivotal life changing moment feeling the first time I heard this. That feeling when you hear a new song or band for the first time and know you’re going to have a love affair with them. 🙂 Think I was lying on my bed in the middle of the day with the radio on and I heard Matchbox 2o for the first time. Rob Thomas’s voice struck a chord with me (ladies you know the chord I’m talking about). I was a goner for this band after that.
Savage Garden – Crash and Burn. Savage Garden was my favourite band from my school days, once I got over the whole boyband Backstreet Boys phase. The Australian duo were cool and funky, producing a mix of ballads and soft rock laced with electronic sounds. There’s something irrisistibly melancholy yet beautiful about this track. All Savage Garden songs tell a story. I get all nostalgic listening to their songs.
Bon Jovi- It’s My Life. Just a fun, let loose rock anthem. If you look closely you’ll see the gorgeous Will Estes from Blue Bloods and Shiri Appleby from Roswell.
Juniper – Weatherman. (made up of Irish man Damien Rice and Bell X 1 before they parted company). A moody song. I would imagine standing in the pouring rain and feeling alive. Ah, the good old teen years.
The Coors – Radio . I could have chosen any of their songs from the late 90s, early 2000s, but I’m going with this one because I love the lyrics – “You are in my head…tangled in my dreams…” and it’s damn catchy, like most of their stuff.
Backstreet Boys – Everybody. I spent so many slumber parties with friends doing the moves to this song and debating who we’d rather have as our boyfriend, Nick or Brien. As we grew older, Kevin emerged the winner. And the monster theme to this video – icing on the cake.
Placebo – Every You Every Me. This reminds me instantly of Cruel Intentions which we all flocked to once we learned Buffy, aka Sarah Michelle Gellar would be starring as a cocaine snorting bad girl. We were also introduced to the lovely Ryan Phillippe.
Natalie Imbruglia – Wising I Was There. The original video isn’t showing up on YouTube for me, but I found it at the link below. With lyrics like “Every night the moon is mine”- of course I loved it.
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So there you have it, a trip through my teen years. I couldn’t include every song that meant something to me. If you made it to the end of this post, I’d love to know what songs you loved as a teenager that can still bring you right back to your 17 year old safe.
Emma's Ramblings on Supernatural Fiction 
Ahhh memories, great selections!;O)
Thanks, Michelle. You never told us what you listen to from your school days?
(Childhood) Blondie, Olivia Newton John, Diana Ross, Donna Summer (In my Teens) Michael Jackson, Prince, Janet Jackson, New Edition, Whitney Houston, Sheena Easton…To name a few:O)
Oh and I loved (Rock Bands) Bon Jovi,, Van Halen, ZZ Top, U2,Guns -N- Roses (a little:O)
Great choices, Michelle. I bet some of these guys influenced your writing. Laughing thinking back to my older sister and I singing and dancing to “Candy Girl”. That had a fun video
Girl I loved me some “Candy Girl” and ZZ Tops “She Got Legs” LOL OMG, Emma they were just fun, they were…and Bon Jovi, goodness, goodness…I love him now! Oh and Emma, one of my very favorite songs was Eurythmics “Sweet Dreams(Are Made Of This) if you have not heard of it, you have to check it out! Of course I hadnt listened to them after that, so I need to see what I missed. Thanks so much for this post Emma, it was fun:O)
“Sweet Dreams” is a brilliant song – I love it. And thanks for playing along.
:=O) My pleasure
Great songs! I was totally in love with Matchbox Twenty. I think that was the time the band, Live, had my obsession too. And Candlebox.
I had to look up Live. They remind me a little of Counting Crows. Listening to “All Over You” now. “Far Behind” – Candlebox is up next. 🙂
I Alone was my fave from Live. It was really popular for awhile. You’re right, they were very much like Counting Crows.I still listen to them and Candlebox. Guess they’d be called Oldies now LOL
Thanks, L.J. I’ll look that one up. If they’re Oldies, God help us.
Oh, you are SO much younger than me! LOL. The Partridge Family-I Think I Love You, The Bee Gees-To Love Somebody, Norman Greenbaum-Spirit in the Sky, Lobo-I’d Love You to Want Me & Me and You and a Dog Named Boo. That’s just pulling stuff right off the top of my head. There was Aerosmith, James Taylor, B.J. Thomas…so many more!
I love “Spirit in the Sky” – though now I always associate it with the film, Remember the Titans.. “To Love Somebody” is a classic.
Love, love, love these! Especially Avril, she is always great when you’re feeling angsty! But I love Bon Jovi too. 🙂
I’ve never seen Bon Jovi in concert. I have to rectify that as soon as possible! What songs helped you get through school, Becky? That was only last year, was it? 🙂 You’re so young.
Yeah they’re awesome in concert! I saw them when Nickelback were the supporting band (before the song Rock Star when suddenly everyone knew who they were, lol.) It was great, I know there are a lot of people who don’t like Bon Jovi but I love all their old stuff.
Hahaa I know! Ermmm I listened to a lot of Avril too, Britney also, ermm, Hilary Duff, The Veronicas, Paramore. Those are probably the main ones. 🙂
Oh, very good. Two great bands at one concert! It really pisses me off when people mock other people’s music interests. And yeah, Bon Jovi tends to get a lot of stick from snobby, up their own arses idiots. 🙂 Avril and Paramore definitely. I adored Avril’s first album in particular.
Oh gosh! Love all your selections, Emma, and yep, they’re are ranked amongst my favourites, too. But, as a 17-year-old, mine are much like Michelle’s. I listened to Donna Summer, Diana Ross, Lionel Richie, Michael Jackson, Level 42, Bonnie Tyler, Darryl Hall and John Oats, Rod Stewart, David Bowie, Yazoo, Duran Duran (oh gosh! lol), Grace Jones!, and so on and so forth! I mean, Lionel Richie is still ONE of my favourites. Oh, oh, Stevie Wonder, Dionne Warwick. You can tell by these how old I am! Oh, darn, sorry. Here are some more: Tears for Fears, Depeche Mode, Wham! AND who on this planet does not love Bruce Springsteen?? I also LOVE country music, too, so listened to Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton as well – I adored! LOL Too many to mention.
You’ve brought back soooooo many memories now! Love it when you post something this super!
Have a fabulous week, 🙂
Silly me! Firstly, it’s ‘they’re ranked’, not what’s up there. lol Secondly, a very Happy Belated Birthday, Emma! Hope you had a super day. x
Thanks, Sandra. Bonnie Tyler sang for the UK in the Eurovision recently – she’s still got that strong, gruff and sexy voice. I discovered Tears for Fears when I watched Donnie Darko back in college, very cool sound. I love, love love Bruce Springsteen. I’m going to see him again this summer. He’s playing my hometown for the very first time- should be epic.
Excellent music choices! Thanks for playing and have a fantastic week.
Happy belated birthday, Emma! Sorry I missed it. Thanks for reminding me how much I enjoyed The Corrs. I’m sure it will come as no surprise for you that I loved Bon Jovi in my youth. It was practically a requirement for every red blooded American girl…along with The Boss. As for Cruel Intentions…Pacey and Buffy may have got me to the theater, but Reese stole my heart. 😉
Cheers, Kitt. The fiddle player from The Corrs is a coach now on The Voice of Ireland.
I can see you rocking out to Bon Jovi and The Boss.
Cruel Intentions seemed so daring and raunchy back then. Reese was good, but I fell in love with her husband!
Happy belated Birthday!!!!! Hmmm, songs that bring me back to my youth….Beastie Boys, Janes Addiction, Guns n Roses. Pretty much any 80’s song.
I adore 80s music. In fact, I’m off to an 80’s night in a few weeks. Should be pretty good. I must start planning my outfit now. 🙂
Another happy belated birthday from me too! omg, you’re so young! 🙂
I love Matchbox 20 and Bon Jovi. A lot of the early BJ songs were ones I sang along to in my teens and 20s. I was addicted to REO Speedwagon, and Styx, and loved a lot of Journey stuff too (my hubby was a Steve Perry clone. It’s still a running joke in my family. Someone even gave him a copy of Journey’s greatest hits when he turned 40 as a gag gift).
For a sing along song, I love Cyndi Lauper’s Girls Just Wanna Have Fun. It brings back the good old days! 😀
Ha ha, no, I’m not that young anymore now! But I’m still young at heart, like teenage young. 🙂
REO Speedwagon, 80s!! And who doesn’t love Journey? Your hubby sounds like a cool dude. Journey’ greatest hits must be an awesome album.
Cyndi Lauper songs will live on forever.
Yeah, I know what chord you’re talking about with Rob Thomas. And I practiced the moves in Britney Spears’ “Hit Me Baby One More Time” on several occasions. For my teen years, it was a heavy metal hair bands, R&B, and top 40. Yeah, all at the same time. “Rainbow in the Dark” by Dio, “Breaking the Chains” by Dokken “Talk Dirty to Me” by Poison. “Beat It” by Michael Jackson, “I’m So Excited” by the Pointer Sisters, and “When Doves Cry” by Prince. And of course “Cover Me” by Sringsteen, “Vacation” by the Go-Gos, and “Goodbye to You” by Scandal.
And Happy Birthday, Emma!!
I knew you would, Shannon. 😉
We’ll still be doing the moves to Britney in our nursing homes. “Beat It” and anything really by Michael Jackson in the late 80s and 90s I adore. Whenever I hear “When Doves Cry” I think of the film, Romeo and Juliet.
You have great taste.
Hahaha YES! Oh, these all bring back memories. Great post
I love how music can bring you back to moments in your life you may otherwise forget.
Thanks for stopping by
Belated birthday wishes! What a post!! I’ve just spent some pleasant hours rooting through youtube and other sources to recall some gems from my 17 year old days. Here goes:-
American Pie-Don mcClean, bought this single the day I finished the Leaving Cert
You’re so Vain-Carly Simon, we had fun figuring out who was the subject matter(Mick Jagger?)
Look what they done to my song ma-Melanie Safka, a beautiful voice
Stairway to Heaven-Led Zeppelin-a classic to this day
The Circle Game-Joni MItchell-was blown away again by the voice, music and lyrics
Baba O’Reilly-The Who-so good they still use material from this album(Who’s Next,1971) on CSI
Others of course too numerous to mention, The Doors, Dylan, Donovan, that’s just the “D”s”!
Would I be cheeky and post you and your readers some links to the few I singled out? Feel free to say”don’t you dare!”
Kevin
Link away, Kevin. I should have encouraged people to do that in my post.
“American Pie” – one of my all time favourites. That song never gets old. And “You’re So Vain” was always on the radio when I was a kid. My three sisters and I would sing along in the back of my Dad’s car.
All the D’s are good.
Looking forward to seeing your links back here.
Cyndi Lauper’s “Girls Just Want to Have Fun!”
The Bangle’s “Walk Like an Egyptian”
Great memories of making an absolute fool of myself walking like an Egyptian at many parties over the years. 🙂
Good choices.
When I was a teen, I listened to a lot of Backstreet Boys (everythinggg), Britney Spears, Avril Lavigne (with you, nobodys home), Christina Aguilera, Linkin Park, Nsync, and I used to love Natalie Imbruglia’s “Torn”
I also really loved Coldplay (Fix You and all their songs from the XY album), The Killers “Mr Brightside” was a fave song at 17-18.
Gwen Stefani (what you waiting for, hollback girl) and Hilary Duff (fly, come clean) were also huge faves of mine. The Veronicas.
I adored Linkin Park. They were great to scream along to when you were having a bad day. 🙂
“Mr Brightside” and “Somebody Told Me” bring back good memories. Cause I ain’t no hollaback girl… Fun song.
Great choices, Jennifer.
When I was 17, I loved Drops of Jupiter by Train, anything by Dido was great, Bon Jovi of course, Britney Spears – you drive me crazy and hit me baby one more time, Queen’s greatest hits, Abba’s greatest hits and The Rasmus’ ‘In the Shadows’! But most importantly as I’m sure you can predict, what I was most listening to at 17 were the Power Ballads!!
Belinda Carlisle’s Heaven is a Place on Earth, Bonnie Tyler’s Total Eclipse of the Heart, Aha’s Hunting High and Low, Roxette’s Fading Like a Flower, Starship’s Nothing’s Gonna Stop us now, Hungry Eyes by Eric Carmen, Foreigner’s I wanna know what love is, and the ultimate belter ‘Alone’ by Heart! 🙂
PS – Happy 30th Birthday to you Emma Meade! 😀 😀 😀
Thanks for pointing that out, Laura!
I love all your music choices. As you well know, I’m a 80s music gal.
“Drops of Jupiter” was one I absolutely adored back then too. Train had a great album and then disappeared for a decade.
Oh the memories.
‘N Sync’s Here We Go was always my pick-me-up song. (I think we’ve had the Backstreet vs ‘N Sync convo before 😉 )
I also liked Avril and Linkin Park, but at 17, that’s about the time I started listening to Disturbed (Voices was my favorite), Rob Zombie, Type O Negative–I went with loud and/or angry for my last 2 years of high school.
Yes, we have 🙂 My younger sister loved ‘N Sync. Their song, “I Want You Back” is great, definitely one of my favourites from that era. I’m not familiar with those last bands, but I’m checking them out now. I think we all got a little loud and angry in school.